Creating memories that last a lifetime

The Saugatuck, Douglas, and Fennville area has been entertaining families for decades, promising hours of swimming, dune climbing, and sand castle building—and that’s just at the beach. No matter how old your kids are, where their interests lie, or what the season, we have dozens of ways to show your family a good time.

Get Moving…

Miles of trails, roads, and waterways offer fresh discoveries at every turn. Depending on the season and the ambition of your group, you can rent hydrobikes to “ride” down the river, traditional bikes to tool around the town, paddleboards or kayaks to explore the wetlands, or snowshoes and cross-country skis to explore the dunes and forests at their most magical time of year.

During harvest time, nothing beats a corn maze for fun and memorable family outings. Fennville’s Crane Orchards designs a new puzzle every year, challenging kids (and equally mystified adults) to find their way out of the 20-acre maze. No matter how long it takes, victory is sweet, with U-pick apples and cider available at the end.

Fishing trips have a knack for building bonds between the generations—but you don’t have to bring your own gear to get in on the fun. Rent tackle and a pontoon boat to try your luck on your own, or treat older kids to an adventurous charter fishing trip in the deeper water of Lake Michigan.

...Or Learn To Draw One

At the Express Yourself Art Barn in Fennville, everyone can be an artist for a day. This friendly, drop-in studio provides supplies, equipment, and instruction for painting, mosaics, or jewelry making—and kids of all ages are welcome.

Look Around You…

Climb aboard the Star of Saugatuck for a leisurely, narrated tour down the Kalamazoo River and into the big lake. The two-tier paddleboat passes historic homes, natural habitats for deer and eagles, and the site of the Singapore ghost town that was slowly devoured by the dunes.
If your crew is ready for a wilder ride, a WWII duck boat tour at Harbor Duck Adventures should get things rolling. It drives through the streets of Saugatuck and Douglas as a truck, splashing into the harbor to swim away as a boat before returning to land again.
Adventurous types can also get their thrills by buckling into an open-top truck for a roller-coaster ride through the dunes. You’ll zoom up, down, and through these mountains of sand with a stop at the top for a million-dollar view.

Or Look Back in Time

Pay a dollar to ride the chain ferry across the river from Saugatuck to Douglas or back—the kids might even be able to help turn the crank. In use since 1838, it’s the only remaining chain-driven ferry in the U.S.—and the best way to get to Oval Beach.
When you want to escape the rain, wind, or even the heat, the Old School House in historic Douglas will whisk you back to the 1860s. Wander through the classrooms, looking back in time through a collection of old photos, student lockers, and school artifacts, and take time to marvel at the power of the lake at the exhibit on shipwrecks and the U.S. Lifesaving service.

On top of these ongoing attractions, our local calendar is always studded with family-friendly events. Whether you come for a day or stay for a week, good times—and good memories –happen here.